Cooking on the cheap shouldn't mean minute rice and buttered pasta every night. With a little creativity and a little planning, Gabriella Paiella shows us how to make the most of a tight budget -- without sacrificing flavor or variety.
Today: Pickling is so hot right now. And when done at home, it's so cheap.
Pickles have become ubiquitous -- so much so that you can't even call me out for linking to this Portlandia sketch from 2012.
With popularity comes priciness, though, so it's not unheard of to shell out $10 for a jar of artisanal pickles. But that's a stupid thing to do for something that's made of produce, water, vinegar, and salt.
One of the easiest ways to attempt pickling is quick and painless. Quick pickling requires very little skill or patience, but be sure to read our guide first so that you can achieve the balance of flavors you're looking for.
Once you've gotten more comfortable with it, try more extensive recipes, like some of the ones we've gathered below. And when you've eaten them all up, save the brine and use it again and again.
Get pickling, and your summer produce will last well past the season -- and definitely longer than your summer fling.
Pickled Asparagus
Spicy, Savory & Sweet Watermelon Rind Pickles
Spicy Celery Quick Pickle Sticks
Quick Cucumber and Shiso Pickles
Shalotta, Mom's Pickled Lettuce Condiment
What are your favorite things to pickle? Tell us in the comments!
Written by: Gabriella Paiella
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